Chestnut Hill Partners Research
Advisory Approach
Chestnut Hill Partners is a nationally recognized investment banking firm specializing in merger and acquisition advisory services. Founded in 1995 and headquartered in New York City, the firm operates with a distinctive buy-side focused model—representing private equity firms exclusively in targeted searches for acquisition candidates, while also maintaining relationships with sellers. CHP differentiates itself through its proprietary Targeted Search methodology, a one-to-one, privately negotiated approach that explicitly rejects the broad auction process employed by many competitors.
The firm's core thesis is that successful transactions emerge from highly focused, targeted searches rather than shotgun auctions. CHP's Go Deep™ methodology combines sophisticated database management with deep understanding of buyer acquisition requirements to conduct focused searches. The firm works on an exclusive basis—when they contact a seller, it's because they have identified the single right buyer match, not to field multiple bids.
Notably, Chestnut Hill Partners co-invests in transactions it originates, aligning its financial interests with client outcomes. The firm has maintained this co-investment discipline for over 20 years, demonstrating confidence in its deal origination capabilities.
Sector Focus
Chestnut Hill Partners has executed transactions across diverse sectors, with particular depth in manufacturing, food & beverage, healthcare services, business services, and consumer products. The firm's transaction history reveals strong capabilities in lower middle market companies with $20M-$500M in revenue.
In manufacturing, CHP has completed acquisitions of precision machining companies (Advanced Laser Machining, American Products Company), contract manufacturers (Kymanox Corporation), plastics companies (Compression Polymers Group, AD-Tech Plastic Systems), metal fabricators (Eagle Engineering), and textile manufacturers (Brentax). The firm demonstrates particular expertise in industrial and manufacturing businesses with operational complexity.
Food & beverage represents another core competency, with transactions including Garden-Fresh Foods (refrigerated foods), Patriot Pickle (pickled products), Natural Balance Pet Foods, Hickory Farms (gourmet foods), Granny's Kitchens (donuts), and Contessa Premium Foods (seafood).
Healthcare services transactions include home care providers (Acappella In Home Care, Aging Care, Caring People), medical products manufacturers, and physician platforms (Sermo). Business services deals span staffing (Construction Labor Contractors), sanitation services (DCS Sanitation Management, Superior Contract Cleaners), environmental services (Mavo Systems, CROMPCO), and data management (Greg C. Rigamer & Associates).
Deal Track Record
Chestnut Hill Partners has completed 75+ transactions through its Targeted Search process, with over $7 billion in aggregate transaction value. The firm's representative transactions page lists 60+ completed deals, demonstrating consistent transaction flow across market cycles.
Recent completed transactions include:
- Garden-Fresh Foods to Mrs. Gerry's Kitchen (Sequel Holdings portfolio)
- Vivid Ink Graphics to Prisma (CenterGate Capital portfolio)
- Hirsch Solutions recapitalization to Cyprium Partners
- Advanced Laser Machining to CGI Automated Manufacturing (CORE Industrial Partners portfolio)
- Kymanox Corporation to WestView Capital Partners
- Rotational Molding of Utah to Tank Holding (Olympus Partners portfolio)
- Advanced Engine Management to Holley Performance Products (Sentinel Capital Partners portfolio)
- Patriot Pickle to Swander Pace Capital
- Yardistry to Backyard Products (Source Capital portfolio)
- Acappella In Home Care to Caring People (Silver Oak Services Partners portfolio)
- Koester Associates to Vessco (O2 Investment Partners portfolio)
- QRP Gloves to Protective Industrial Products (Audax Private Equity portfolio)
- Sermo recapitalization to ABRY Partners
- Eagle Engineering to Eckhart (LFM Capital portfolio)
- LiteCorr Industries to SloanLED (Baird Capital portfolio)
- M&M Refrigeration to Source Capital
The firm maintains particularly strong relationships with middle-market private equity firms including Silver Oak Services Partners, Harvest Partners, Centre Partners, Audax Private Equity, Sentinel Capital Partners, Sun Capital Partners, ClearView Capital, Wind Point Partners, and Olympus Partners.
Process & Fee Structure
Chestnut Hill Partners operates on an exclusivity model, executing each engagement with seasoned operator/bankers rather than junior staff or call centers. The Targeted Search process involves:
- Preliminary Search: Early opportunities cultivated through long-term marketplace presence
- Targeted Search: Highly tailored search process around specific buyer criteria
- Executive Sponsorship: Search structured around key executives or management teams
The firm emphasizes discretion—negotiations remain confidential until signing and transfer of funds. CHP bypasses the "slow, tedious, frustrating" auction process, bringing qualified, funded buyers directly to sellers for serious negotiations.
Typical engagement size is $20M-$500M in gross sales, though the firm completes transactions outside this range. The process typically moves faster than traditional auctions due to the one-to-one approach.
Buyer Network
Chestnut Hill Partners maintains deep relationships with middle-market private equity firms. The Targeted Search model is designed to serve PE buyers seeking both new platform investments and add-on acquisitions. Key relationships include:
Private Equity Buyers: Silver Oak Services Partners, Harvest Partners, Centre Partners, Audax Private Equity, Sentinel Capital Partners, Sun Capital Partners, ClearView Capital, Wind Point Partners, Olympus Partners, Source Capital, Abry Partners, WestView Capital Partners, Cyprium Partners, CORE Industrial Partners, Baird Capital, LFM Capital, O2 Investment Partners, Trivest, Lineage Capital, Graham Partners, DFW Capital Partners, Boyne Capital Partners, Keystone Capital, Code Hennessy & Simmons, Sequel Holdings, CenterGate Capital, Prisma, and others.
Strategic Buyers: Public companies including ACME United Corporation (NYSE: ACU), Del Monte Foods, Holley Performance Products, SloanLED, Eckhart, Sika Corporation, Roper Industries, Bodycote IMT, and others.
Competitive Positioning
Chestnut Hill Partners differentiates through:
- Buy-side focus: Represents buyers exclusively, not sellers—creating alignment with PE clients seeking proprietary deal flow
- Targeted Search methodology: One-to-one approach rather than broad auctions, reducing market disruption and preserving confidentiality
- Co-investment: The firm invests its own capital alongside clients, demonstrating confidence in originated transactions
- Exclusivity: Each engagement receives dedicated senior attention—no call centers, junior staffing, or off-shore activities
- 100+ years combined experience: Team includes former public company CEOs, CFOs, and line operators who understand transactions from both buyer and seller perspectives
- Discretionary negotiations: All discussions remain confidential until completion, signing, and transfer of funds
Not a Fit If
Chestnut Hill Partners typically declines:
- Sellers seeking broad auction processes (CHP's model is one-to-one, not shotgun)
- Transactions requiring mass marketing to hundreds of potential buyers
- Clients seeking sale-side representation (CHP represents buyers exclusively)
- Engagements where speed and discretion are not priorities
- Companies outside the $20M-$500M revenue range (though exceptions occur)
Team
Paul Schaye – Founding Partner & Managing Partner. 30+ years in investment banking and management consulting. Completed transactions valued at $5B+. Awarded M&A Pro of the Year by Mergers and Acquisitions Journal. Former management consultant at A.T. Kearney and Booz Allen & Hamilton. Held executive positions at PepsiCo and Viacom. BA from University of Massachusetts (Summa Cum Laude), Ph.D. program in Business.
David Rowley – Managing Director. Focuses on deal origination and execution for private equity clients.
Jeff Davidson – Managing Director. University of Delaware alumnus. Specializes in private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and deal origination.
Michael Gasparro, CFA – Managing Director. Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management MBA. CFA charterholder.
The firm's bankers all have extensive operating experience as public company CEOs, CFOs, and line managers, enabling them to understand transactions from both buyer and seller perspectives.
Geographic Coverage
Headquartered at 520 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10022. Serves clients nationally with a focus on middle-market transactions throughout the United States. Phone: 212.687.3123.